Top-Earning Dead Celebrities

Highest Earning Dead Celebrities

Michael Jackson, shown performing in concert circa 1986, was the highest-earning dead celebrity in the last year, earning more than any living pop star, according to Forbes. He died four years ago, but the "king of pop" earned $160 million, nearly three times as much as the second highest earner, the so-called King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis.

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Highest Earning Dead Celebrities

Michael Jackson, shown performing in concert circa 1986, was the highest-earning dead celebrity in the last year, earning more than any living pop star, according to <a href="http://onforb.es/16t2GfK"target="external">Forbes</a>. He died four years ago, but the "king of pop" earned $160 million, nearly three times as much as the second highest earner, the so-called King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Highest Earning Dead Celebrities

While Michael Jackson's estate earned dough with two Cirque du Soleil Shows and recorded music sales, American rock singer Elvis Presley (1935-1977) has his home Graceland in Memphis to thank. Presley is shown circa 1975 wearing a white rhinestone-studded suit and strapped guitar, singing into a microphone with his eyes closed. His estate earned $55 million in the last 12 months.

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Highest Earning Dead Celebrities

American cartoonist Charles Schulz (1922-2000), creator of the Peanuts comic strip series, died in Feb. 2000 at age 77, but his estate still earned $37 million in the last year, according to Forbes.

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Highest Earning Dead Celebrities

The estate of actress Elizabeth Taylor, who died March 2011, earned $25 million in the last year, boosted by her frangrance, White Diamonds. However, her estate earned $185 million more in the previous list due to an auction of her personal things. Taylor is shown with her Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 65th Annual Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on March 29, 1993 in Los Angeles.

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Highest Earning Dead Celebrities

The late reggae musician Bob Marley, who died in May 1981 at age 36, earned $18 million for his estate in the last 12 months, boosted in part by album sales and Marley Beverage Company, which sells Marley's Mellow Mood.